Response to proposed Strawbery Banke ice rink still frigid

Process makes way through city boards as court date looms

PORTSMOUTH — A proposal to build a skating rink at Strawbery Banke Museum is continuing to make its way through the city's land-use board process, even as an icy legal battle looms in the new year between the city and residents of the historic South End neighborhood.

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By Charles McMahon

seacoastonline.com

By Charles McMahon

Posted Dec. 24, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By Charles McMahon

Posted Dec. 24, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

PORTSMOUTH — A proposal to build a skating rink at Strawbery Banke Museum is continuing to make its way through the city's land-use board process, even as an icy legal battle looms in the new year between the city and residents of the historic South End neighborhood.

Neighbors living adjacent to the living history museum were in attendance for a work session held Monday by the city's Technical Advisory Committee, a group consisting of planners and emergency responders.

The work session, which lasted little more than 45 minutes, was held as a precursor to a meeting slated for Jan. 2, in which residents can speak before TAC members about the proposal.

TAC members on Monday focused heavily on the elements of light and noise pollution, as well as any potential traffic impacts the proposed 12,500-square-foot ice rink would have on the surrounding property owners.

The rink, which would be surrounded by a post-and-rail fence, would be placed in the open lawn area between the Visitor Center and Strawbery Banke's Cooper Shop. It would be frozen by a "chilling compressor system" and regularly resurfaced by a Zamboni. The rink's hours of operation would be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

John Chagnon, of Ambit Engineering, said the proposal includes a sound barrier to be erected around the ice chiller. The barrier, according to Chagnon, will help reduce the potential for noise impact on neighbors.

Traffic is also not expected to be a problem, because attendance at the rink is not expected to rise over the normal number of people typically at the museum during its summer months, according to Chagnon.

But while details of the project continue to get fleshed out through the local land-use process, opponents to the skating rink appear to remain vigilant.

"We are following closely what's going on at the Planning Board and TAC," said Richard Tomb, spokesman for the group of South End residents contesting the skating rink.

Several of the residents in attendance for Monday's meeting could be seen scrawling on legal pads during the brief work session. Many of those in the crowd were among the group of 16 residents who are arguing in legal filings that the city Zoning Board of Adjustment erred when approving variances for the proposed skating rink known as Puddle Dock Pond.

The case is scheduled to be heard Friday, Jan. 10, in Rockingham County Superior Court.

The hearing stems from a lawsuit filed by neighbors, who earlier this year contested the ZBA's 5-2 vote to grant a pair of variances to the rink proposal. In August, neighbors were unanimously denied a request for a rehearing on the ZBA's decision. A month later, they filed a lawsuit in Superior Court in an attempt to overturn the ZBA's decision.